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Teen Pregnancy and Birth Rates

Many communities across the Commonwealth have worked hard to create the change necessary to reduce the teen birth rate, yet continued geographic disparities persist. It is important to note that the drivers of such disparities reach far beyond the individual level of teen behavior. We must also look to inequities created by the social determinants of health. These include community factors that impact where young people live, work and play. Examples of these include the quality of schools, exposure to violence, and access to comprehensive sexuality education, condoms and contraception. Systemic determinants of health, including state and local policies, systemic racism, and our cultural approach to sexuality also play an important role in youth outcomes.